Legal Commentary

Premier of Newfoundland To Have Open Heart Surgery in U.S.:

By Todd Zywicki

This article sent to me by my Canadian ex-pat colleague Michael Krauss pretty much speaks for itself:

ST. JOHN?S, N.L. ? Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week in the United States.

Deputy premier Kathy Dunderdale confirmed the treatment at a news conference Tuesday, but would not reveal the location of the operation or how it would be paid for.

?He has gone to a renowned expert in the procedure that he needs to have done,? said Ms. Dunderdale, who will become acting premier while Mr. Williams is away for three to 12 weeks.

?In consultation with his own doctors, he?s decided to go that route.?

Mr. Williams? decision to leave Canada for the surgery has raised eyebrows over his apparent shunning of Canada?s health-care system.

?It was never an option offered to him to have this procedure done in this province,? said Ms. Dunderdale, refusing to answer whether the procedure could be done elsewhere in Canada.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on February 03, 2010 (boomark / email).